Sales Credit Program Benefits Ontario Owners and Trainers

Over 250 yearlings are entered in the 2023 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale on August 30 and Ontario owners can once again use Sales Credits earned through Ontario Racing’s Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) to support their purchases.

The Sales Credit program provides a credit of $750 or $1,000 to the owner of a Registered Ontario-Bred when they win at specific claiming levels at Woodbine Racetrack and Fort Erie Race Track.

Trainer Bill Tharrenos purchased Hip 41 at the 2022 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale for $28,000 and $9,750 in Sales Credits helped push the purchase of the Reload colt over the sale’s median and average.

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“The (CTHS Sales Stakes) program is very beneficial,” said Tharrenos. “It motivates you to try and get a good horse out of the sale, and the Sales Credits from Ontario Racing helps motivate you to buy.”

The nearly $10,000 in Sales Credits used to purchase the chestnut colt – the highest on any Hip at the sale – was the result of Tharrenos taking advantage of the ability to transfer Sales Credits.

“I think (the ability to transfer) helps a lot, because there are people that get the credits and might not use them,” said Tharrenos. “So, if you can transfer those to someone that is aggressive in our sale, I think that is an opportunity for both, and someone that needs them can put them to use.”

(Jeff Vorgan photo)

Hip 41, now named Roar of the Crowd, is steadily progressing towards his on-track debut with several timed breezes since late June, and the last two stretching out to five-eighths of a mile.

“The Reloads take a little more time in maturing and to get to the races than others and I haven’t pointed him to a race yet,” said Tharrenos. “But I have others that are going to the CTHS Sales Stakes.”

The CTHS Sales Stakes, supported by TIP funds, are a quartet of races restricted to Canadian bred horses purchased at a CTHS Sale. The two-year-old divisions go for $200,000 and the three-year-old divisions go for $100,000.

Even if Roar of the Crowd does not make his debut in time to compete in the Simcoe Stakes for colts and geldings, Tharrenos knows he has a quality colt in his barn.

Roar of the Crowd is a half-brother to 2011 Sovereign Champion three-year-old winner Pender Harbour, a double millionaire who is also a CTHS Sale graduate.

“There are a lot of good horses that have come out of our sale,” said Tharrenos. “And helping it along and making it better is the Sales Credits program.”

Owners can view an updated list of Sales Credits and download the Transfer Form on the TIP website.